Shadowrun
Shadowrun General => Gear => Topic started by: raistca on <08-21-14/2125:28>
-
So I'm reading about shock frills and the source says:
These strips of "fur" are electrically charged when activated, standing on end and inflicting Electricity damage to anyone that touches you.
Does this mean that anyone who makes a melee attack against the wearer takes damage without the defender having to use any actions (other than activation)? Does it only apply if the wearer is being grappled? Or does the wearer have to make an unarmed attack as a complex action to deal damage with the shock frills?
-
So I'm reading about shock frills and the source says:
These strips of "fur" are electrically charged when activated, standing on end and inflicting Electricity damage to anyone that touches you.
Does this mean that anyone who makes a melee attack against the wearer takes damage without the defender having to use any actions (other than activation)? Does it only apply if the wearer is being grappled? Or does the wearer have to make an unarmed attack as a complex action to deal damage with the shock frills?
"To anyone touching you" probably applies to anyone who touches you with either their hands or something made out of conductive material. And any buddy who pats you on the back if you aren't careful.
Not to say I put much thought into it.
-
I'd ask people to elect where these frills are. I ask people to be precise about where they are. It's not a full suit, it's more like the glass relocker in a safe, something that protects important, strategic areas. I'd also say the suit would be, due to the nature of the upgrade, something that would ground itself. That if you have a knee, elbow, hand, sleeve, touching the ground, you can avoid the worst damage in a hold. That still doesn't stop accidental discharge, because you're not grounded and the suit thinks you're a foe, by its sensors. Just not when you need that extra bit of help to stay alive, aware.
In my mind and correct me if I am wrong, there's a piece of fiction in the core book about someone being kicked and the kicker being zapped because of some frills. There's something to be said for keeping it to a defensive role, as opposed to the shock weave, which in my mind is offensive.
You shouldn't be able to double up, so to speak, but you could get lucky. I don't mind the idea that an unlucky guard gets a zap, that I don't mind. My preference would be some sort of luck test, in this case, bad luck. Perhaps on a glitch you get a zap, critical glitch, instant knock out. Critical success, they work out there's something more about the armour. Success they avoid any harm but are unaware of the frills.
Still, thinking about this, there's something to be said for allowing a smart player to use the shock frills, trying to get me into a hold, oh, wait, zarch, you're out cold. It bears some thought, and right now I'm thinking more about food than role playing.
-
There's something to be said for keeping it to a defensive role, as opposed to the shock weave, which in my mind is offensive.
Just a note, the book clearly defines Shock Weave as a purely defensive item.
This armor modification cannot be used offensively.
The fact that it only affects anyone who enters a grapple or clinch with someone wearing shock weave, or when the character wearing it uses the Block Interrupt Action (an Active Defense action), further emphasizes this point to my mind.
Shock Weave is awesome, though. For 1,000¥ and the fact that you only need to generate 2 hits (not net nits) on a Block attempt makes this an ideal piece of gear for anyone who isn't very good at close combat, and even more so for those who are. Pretty much every character I'm making considers Shock Weave for their armor, because it dramatically increases their effectiveness in close combat (i.e. no more curling up on the ground yelling "PLEASE DON'T HIT ME, WAAAH!").
-
Since you roll Unarmed Combat with the frills, I've defined Shock Frills has what you use when you're doing the touching (fluff text notwithstanding) and Shock Weave what you use when someone else is trying to touch you. Use both, go Preemptive Block and enjoy life.
-
Please see comment re: thinking about food not role playing, also if required, read my previous post with weave as frills, frills as weave.
I think I need to stop hungry posting.